The Elk County Catholic Crusader basketball team outscored the St. Marys Area Flying Dutchmen by a 30-23 margin in the second half to pick up a 51-46 District 9 League victory last night at the SMAHS Dutch Oven.
With 5:02 left in the third period, the Dutch held a 30-24 lead. In the final five minutes of the third period the Crusaders outscored the Dutch by a 13-5 margin to take a 35-34 lead with eight minutes remaining. In those final eight minutes Elk Catholic outscored St. Marys 16-12 to win the game.
â€śThat was a really nice win,â€ť said ECCHS coach Aaron Straub.
â€śSt. Marys has an excellent team and are getting better each night out. We feel fortunate to come away with the win tonight,â€ť said Straub.
â€śI thought we did a good job tonight fighting through foul trouble and some illness. We have to get sharper offensively and have a better understanding offensively,â€ť added coach Straub.
The Crusaders were led by Darren Simons with 20 points on two twos four threes and a four for five night from the foul line. Simons also led Elk in rebounding with seven. Tyler Herzing finished with 16 points on four field goals and an eight for eight night from the foul line.
The Dutch offense was led by Ryan Uhl with 14 points on six field goals and a two for two night from the foul line. He finished the night with 12 rebounds. Dylan Reigel and Justin Quiggle were next in the scoring for the Dutch with seven points each.
â€śThe complexion of the game changed when we lost both our big men (Ryan Mancuso, Ryan Uhl) to fouls. We have to get better at not fouling,â€ť said St. Marys coach Mark Guido.
â€śThe kids played well tonight. This is the type of game you have to use to get better,â€ť added coach Guido.
The game started out as a back and forth affair as the Crusaders went up 6-0 on two trifectas by Simons. Reigel and Quiggle scored to make it 6-4. Foul shots by Tyler Herzing made the score 8-4. Uhl and Eric Wehler traded buckets with Uhl scoring again on a putback. Luke Daghir sank one of two foul shots as Elk led 11-8. Quiggle hit a two and Uhl converted a three-point play as the Dutch led 13-11. Herzing tied the game with a field goal. Quiggle converted a foul shot as St. Marys led 14-13 at the end of the first period.
Jordan Weinzierl converted two foul shots for the Dutch to open the second quarter. Simons scored at the 5:48 mark with Ricky Pearsall adding a foul shot for ECC with 5:17 left to tie the game at 16. Ryan Mancuso scored on a putback then added two foul shots giving St. Marys the 20-16 lead. Ben Daghir converted two foul shots cutting the St. Marys lead to 20-18. Weinzierl and Pearsall traded three giving St. Marys the 23-21 lead at the half.
Reigel gave St. Marys the 25-21 lead to start the second half. Simons hit a three making it 25-24. Mancuso converted two foul shots with Reigel adding a three giving St. Marys the 30-24 lead. Simons scored on a putback with Herzing converting four of four from the line then adding a field goal as Elk took a 32-30 lead. Bob Vollmer tied the game with a field goal for the Dutch. Uhl gave St. Marys the 34-32 lead. Wehler hit a three for Elk giving the Crusaders the 35-34 lead with eight minutes remaining.
Herzing and Uhl exchanged buckets to open the fourth quarter. Jimmy Werner converted one of two for the Dutch from the line making it 37-all. At the 6:10 mark, Mancuso fouled out for St. Marys. Simons hit a three at the 5:55 mark giving Elk the 40-37 lead. Uhl converted a three-point play as Josh Gebauer fouled out for ECC on the play. Mitchel Haberberger converted one of two giving ECC the 41-40 lead with 4:44 left. Herzing and Vollmer traded buckets. At the 1:59 Uhl fouled out of the contest as Pearsall converted one of two foul shots, 44-42. Simons sank two foul shots with 1:43 left, 46-42. With 35 seconds left Herzing sank two foul shots giving Elk the 48-42 lead. Quiggle cut it to 48-44 before Simons sank two more foul shots, 50-44. Ben Daghir sank one of two foul shots making it 51-44. Werner scored for the Dutch with 11 seconds remaining making the final score 51-46 in favor of the Crusaders.

Game notes
The Crusaders are now 8-3 on the season and are 2-1 in District 9 League play.

The Dutchmen are now 8-3 on the season and 3-1 in District 9 League play.

The Dutch return to action next Tuesday when they travel to Punxsutawney for a District 9 League game.

The Crusaders will return to action next Wednesday when they travel to Curwensville for an AML contest.

The Crusaders were guilty of 10 turnovers while the Dutch turned the ball over 12 times.